Melbourne Victory will attempt to end a run of five games without a victory when they play hosts to Sydney FC in the Big Blue on Friday.
Following a strong start to the season, Victory have seen their form dip and they have slipped to seventh place on the ladder.
There is work to be done if they are to make the top six and there is no better way to start than a win over their arch rivals.
Sydney FC are just two points above Victory and had been on a solid run of form before slipping up at the weekend.
There is no love lost between the two sides and it is sure to be an intense battle under the lights at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Victory have come out on the wrong end of two high-scoring affairs in recent weeks and leaking goals is becoming an issue for them.
They went down to a 3-2 defeat against Adelaide at the weekend, while Western United beat them 4-3 the game before.
Conceding seven goals over the last three games has cost them and they need to plug the gaps at the back.
Scoring goals has not been an issue however and Clarismario Santos Rodrigues is in good touch with a goal in each of the last two games.
Victory’s recent record in the Big Blue is not great, winning just two of the last six meetings, and they will be out to put that right on Friday night.
Their home form will also need to improve though, having failed to win at AAMI Park in the last three games.
Sydney had been going great guns and were unbeaten in six games until they suffered a shock 4-3 home defeat against Brisbane Roar at the weekend.
Ufuk Talay’s men will be desperate to bounce back with a win over Victory and complete the season double.
Sydney won 3-0 when the two sides met at Allianz Stadium at the end of December with Joe Lolley grabbing two goals in the game.
Their leading scorer has failed to hit the net in the last three games however and will be keen to break the mini drought.
Scoring goals is not an issue for Sydney, who lead the way with 32 this season. However no other side in the top seven have conceded more.
They have also failed to win on the last two visits to take on Victory and will be in for another tough game on Friday night.
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Melbourne Victory - 2.10
Draw - 3.80
Sydney FC - 3.10
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.